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Ontario helping Guelph improve and expand public transit

Province providing new funding to manage congestion, improve commutes

Guelph, Ontario, December 22, 2016 – Ontario is helping Guelphenhance and expand its transit system to reduce congestion, shorten commute times, and help people get to where they’re going faster.

This year, Guelph is receiving $2,812,710in gas tax funding to support public transit upgrades and enhancements that could include purchasing new transit vehicles, adding more routes, extending hours of service, or improving accessibility.

Improving and expanding public transit also helps reduce air pollution and meet the province’s greenhouse gas emission reduction targets. One bus takes up to 40 vehicles off the road, and keeps 25 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions out of the atmosphere each year.

Supporting stronger public transit systems is part of our plan to create jobs, grow our economy and help people in their everyday lives.

QUOTES

“Support from the province is helping Guelphimprove its public transit network. Thanks to stable funding provided through the gas tax program, Guelph Transit can make improvements that benefit local commuters, families and visitors to our community.”Liz Sandals, MPP for Guelph

“This provincial funding is crucial to our continued improvement of Guelph Transit, so that more and more people will choose to travel by Transit instead of personal vehicles. This has major benefits for our city – including reducing traffic congestion, air pollution, and wear and tear on our roads.”Cam Guthrie, Mayor of Guelph

QUICK FACTS

Ontario’s gas tax program provides municipalities with two cents per litre of provincial gas tax revenues. The program was made permanent in 2013 to provide a stable source of funding for municipalities.

This year, the province is providing $334.5 million through the gas tax program to expand and improve public transit — an increase of $1.6 million over last year. For 2016/17, 99 municipalities will receive funding, the most since the program started in 2004.

In 2015, there was an increase of more than 217 million trips on municipal transit systems, compared to 2003 — equivalent to removing approximately 181 million car trips on roads.

Ontario’s population is expected to grow by approximately 40 per cent by 2041, making it even more important to build modern and efficient infrastructure.

Research shows that every $100 million of public infrastructure investment in Ontario boosts GDP by $114 million, particularly in the construction and manufacturing sectors.